Axminster loom



31, 1929. a F. HATHAWAY ET AL 1,742,167

AXMINSTER LOOM Filed Sept.'4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTORS Dec. 31., 1929.

E. F. HATHAWAY ET AL AXMINSTER LOOM Filed Sept. 4. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 g f g vENTqRTs Y WW Z JM ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 31, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDGAR F. HATHAWAY, F "WELLESLEY, AND WALTER BIXIBY, 015' BOSTON, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNORS TO SI-IAWMU'T ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSAOHU- SETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS AXMIINSTER 1100M Application filed September 4, 1926.

This invention relates to looms for tuft Weaving, such as are used in weaving AX- minster rugs, and relates particularly to an improved suspension of the tube frames whereby tube frames of great length for wide or seamless rugs may be given a multiple suspension to prevent sagging of the middle portion of the tube frame.

Single width tube frames are usually either three-quarter or four-quarter yards in width and are usually carried by a pair ofparallel carriage chains with which end brackets form a suspending connection, but of'late years especially multiple spool tube frames have come into use in which three or four single spools are mounted end to end upon a single longitudinal'carrier bar which is provided, at its ends, with end brackets carrying suspension members for suspending the tube frame from the widely spaced parallel carrier chains which travel over suitable sprocket wheels, and carry a considerable number of suspended tube frames in successive order to a given point above the loom where they are taken from the chains by transfer mechanism for the purpose of delivering the tuft yarn to the fabric being woven.

To prevent'sagging of the middle portion. of the longmultiple spool tube-frames, various expedients have been resorted to for stiffening the frame, all of which involve substantially added weight to the tube frame construction.

Our present invention deals with this problem of preventing undue sag of the tube-frame by providing an intermediate suspension chain between the two outside or end-suspending chains, provision being made for simultaneously releasing the suspension members from all the chains. While the principle is applicable to any number of suspension chains, ordinarily a single,in-

termediate suspension chain will suflice for the longest tube frames now in use and we Serial No. 133,592.

have, therefore, illustrated in the drawings a tube-frame having four yarn spools sus pended from their carrier elements which, in this case, comprise two outside chains and an intermediate chain with which chains are co-operatively associated on the tube frame corresponding suspension members.

This and other features of the invention will be described in the following specifica tion and will be defined in the claims anneXed.

In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated a practicable form of construc-' tion embodying the tion, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a multiple spool tube-frame suspended from triple parallel chains.

Figure 2 is a detail viewin ed'gewise or front elevation of the intermediate chain: engaging suspension member. Figure 3 is a side View of the same as it will appear viewed in the direction of the length of the frame.

principles of this inven- Figure 4 is a plan view showing an. intermediate suspension member'suspended from the intermediate chain.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the parts under the arrangement shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a'front elevation showing; the middle portion of the tube frame and the middle spool-bearing brackets and the associated suspension member.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the middle suspension member viewed from the posite to that of Figure 5.

' In the practice of the invention, according side opto the form illustrated in the drawings, we

employ the well-known type of tubular carrier-bar 1, to whose opposite ends are secured the end brackets 2, .comprisingoutwardly offset upwardly projecting chain-penetrating members 2 and inner spool-bearing members 2 with their inturned attaching wings 2f telescoping inside of the hollow end portions of the carrier-bar to which they are secured. Pivotal suspension hooks or latches 6, mounted in this case on transverse fulcral pins 6, are normally pressed outward by helical springs 6", mounted in the end brackets so as to overhang and engage the top of the inner link of two side by side spaced links 4, of the carrier-chain.

The tube frame also carries intermediate spool-bearing stands or brackets 11, to support the intermediate spool journals for carrying the individual yarn spools 12. I In this case, at the middle portion of the carrier-bar, are mounted face to face two spool bearing brackets 7 and 8 which are provided, respectively, with attaching angle feet 7 and 8 by which they are firmly secured to the carrier-bar.

The spool-bearing bracket 7'is preferably provided with a chain-lapping guide 7 located above its spool-bearing aperture. The spool-bearing bracket 8 has its middle portion slotted longitudinally or vertically to receive a suspension member or latch 9, and the offset spool-bearing upper end of the bracket 8 is formed opposite the upper end of said slot with a projecting stop member 8 which acts as a stop to limit the swinging movement of the latch 9 away from the suspension chain.

It will be understood that in this case the single or intermediate link 5 of the suspension chain is set to register with the double or parallel spaced links 4 of the other tube suspension chains so that, viewed longitudinally of the tube frame, the two double or spaced links 4 of the outside chains will be in registry with the single or intermediate link 5 of the intermediate chain, but it will be understood that the chains and their sprocket wheels are all of the same construction and of the type generally used and known.

The intermediate latch or suspension member 9, shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3,

comprises an upright latch whose upper end is offset and inturned to form a hook portion 9, adapted to overlap the link 5 of the chain against which it is pressed by a compressed helical spring 19, similar to the springs 8 used in the end brackets. Near its lower end the latch 9 is provided with a halfround offset portion 9 to form an eye or bearing recess for receiving a transverse fulcral pin 10. The lower end of the latch below the offset bearing eye or recess 9" extends through a slot or aperture 1 in the top wall of the carrier-bar 1, as shown in figure 6. The latch 9, therefore, forms a lever of the first class with its upper arm above the fulcral pin 10, much longer than its lower arm which projects down inside of the carrier-bar. Both theupper arm and the. lower arm of the latch are provided with perforations, the former located to register with the adjMent-spooljournals, so-as to allow the maximum movement of the latch without interference by the journals, while the latter or short arm is preforated to receive an actuating member or connecting rod 15.

This connecting rod has its opposite end portions somewhat reduced to form thrust shoulders, as at 15. The. reduced ends of this red penetrate apertures in the lower portions of the left hand latch 6, and the intermediate latch 9.

It will be understood that the present embodiment of this improvement is intended for use with any usual or suitable type of transfer clutches A, forming part of the transfer mechanism, these clutches being provided with side rings a and with a bottom ring a forming a sort of chair or cradle which, when the tube frame is in position for delivery to the loom, press inwardly against the opposite ends of the tube frame to firmly grip the same between them and carry it into the loom. The clutch members are so constructed that this inward movement results in pressing in the exterior or outside latches G sufiiciently to clear the suspending links of the chains so as to permit the clutches to withdraw the suspension brackets from the carrier-chains and convey the tube frame to proper position in the loom to perform its functions.

Of course, such clutch mechanism could not act directly upon the suspension member 9 which supports the middle portion of the tube frame. The necessary movement, however, to swing the latch 9 clear of the suspension link 5 of its chain is effected by means of the connecting member 15 which is loosely suspended inside of the carrier-bar by its engagement with the latch 9, and the latch 6, respectively.

The reduced end portions of the bar 15 are of sufficient lengtli to eliminate any likelihood of accidental disengagement with its supporting latches. By reference to Figure 1 it will be seen that the inwardly moving clutch member a, at the same time that it presses in the latch 6, also forces the rod 15 longitudinally in the same direction so that the inward motion of the clutch or transfer device is transmitted to the lower end of the latch 9, causing the upper or hook end 9 of said latch to move in the reverse direction and become completely disengaged from its suspension link 5. Both latch 6 and latch 9 are automatically returned to chaiirengaging and suspending position by their respective actuating springs 6, 19. This particular construction of suspension rod is adopted because it is not only very simple in construction but it can be easily applied in the assemblage of the tube frame parts and will always be reliable in its action. In this case the return movement of both latches is made by its own spring and not through the agency of the connecting member 15, but the arrangement is such that there is no danger of the thrust-transmitting rod becoming disengaged from either suspension member.

It will be seen that the intermediate spoolbearing bracket, comprising the upright members 7 and 8 offset or spaced at their upper ends to provide sufficient space for the i to and fro movement of the latch 9, also afford stops 7 and 8 for limiting the movementof the latch in either direction. The upward extension 7 of one of these bracket members has a guiding engagement with that face of the chain link 5, opposite to the side engaged by the latch. Consequently the single link of the chain is embraced, on one side,

by the spool-bearing bracket extension and on the other side by the over-hanging hook latch when the tube-frame is normally suspended from the chains.

What we claim is:

j 1. In a loom for tuft weaving, the combination with tube frame carrier mechanism embracing three carrier chains arranged to travel in parallelism, of a tube frame embracing a carrier bar having means for positloning a row of tuft yarns, suspension members .fulcrumed at the end and intermediate portions of the carrier-bar to releaseably engage corresponding carrier chains, and transfer means embracing transfer members movable inward longitudinally of the tube frame to form gripping engagement wlth the opposite ends of the tube frame and by such movement simultaneously release the suspension members from their respective carrier chains.

members located at the middle and end portions of the carrier bar, and arranged to be released from corresponding carrier chains by tube frame transfer mechanism as it grlps the tube frame preparatory to transferring the tube frame to yarn-delivering position.

4L. In a tube frame the combination with a longitudinal carrier-bar and its rotatably supported spools, of outside and intermediate suspension members attached to the tube frame to be movable longitudinally thereof into and out of engagement with corresponding suspension chains by coordinated transfer mechanism, and an actuating member combined with the intermediate suspension member and movable longitudinally of the tube frame by the transfer mechanism to release said intermediate suspension member'from its chain whenthe outer sus-' pension membersare released.

l 51 In atube frame the combination witha longitudinal carrier bar and its rotatably supported yarn spools, of suspension latches mounted at" the intermediate end portions of the carrier-bar to swing into and out of suspension engagement with corresponding carrier-chains, a longitudinally movable actuating member Whose ends engage the intermediate and one of the end latches and transmits movement to said intermediate latch to disengage it from its chain when the end latches are released.

6. In a tube frame the combination with a longitudinal hollow carrier-bar and its yarn spools, of suspension means embracing sus pension latches located at intermediate and end portions of the carrier-bar, a longitudinal connecting rod mounted inside the hol low bar and having shouldered engagement at its opposite ends with the intermediate latch and with one of the end latches and acting, when pressed inward, to release the intermediate latch from its suspension chain.

7. Intermediate suspension means for a tube frame embracing a spool-bearing bracket secured to the carrier-bar of the tube frame to rota-tably support adjacent ends of two end to end yarn-spools, said bracket being extended above the level of the spoolbearingsto form a chain-lapping guide, a pivotally mounted chain-engaging latch cooperatively associated withsaid bracket to swing toward and away from said guide, and means engaging the lower end portion of said latch to release it from the chain.

8. Intermediate suspension means for a tube frame embracing a spool-bearing bracket secured to the tube frame carrier-bar intermediately of its ends to project upward' between two adjacent spools, said bracket having spaced bearing members to rotatably support the adjacent ends of the spools, one of which bearing members is extended upward to lap a link of a suspension chain, a chain-engaging hook latch normally pressed toward said chain-lapping extension, and

means engaging the lower part of said latch to release it from suspending engagement with the chain.

9. Intermediate suspension means for a tube frame, embracing a spool-bearing bracket secured to a tube frame carrier-bar to present tWo offset spaced bearing members between two adjacent spools, a chain-engaging latch mounted to swing between said bearing members into and out of suspension engagement with its chain, said bracket forming a stop to limit the swinging movement of said latch.

10. An intermediate suspension means for a tube frame embracing in combination a spool-bearing bracket projecting upward be-' tween two adjacent yarn spools to afford bearings for the spool journals, the bracket being provided with a longitudinal vertical recess, .a chain-engaging suspension latch mounted to swing between said bearings to and from chain-enga ing position, the latch being dimensioned an arranged to fold within said recess when in chain-engaging position, and being perforated in line with said spool bearings.

In witness whereof, we have subscribed the above specification.

EDGAR F. HATHAWAY. WALTER BIXBY. 

